Icelandic film 'Myrin' wins main prize at Karlovy Vary film festival

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic - The Icelandic film "Myrin" took the main prize, the Crystal Globe, at the international Karlovy Vary film festival on Saturday.

Icelandic director Baltazar Kormakur(L) and producer Agnes Johansen pose with the Crystal Globe for their film 'Myrin' on stage during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival closing ceremony in Karlovy Vary. [AFP]

The film, directed by Baltasar Kormakur, tells the story of a collection of pugnacious men.

The realistic Russian film "Prostie Vechi" (Simple Things) from young director Alexis Popogrebski won two awards for its principle actors as well as a prize from the International Federation of Film Critics and from the ecumenical jury.

Sergey Puskepalis, 40, who plays a disillusioned doctor from Saint Petersburg, was given the prize for best actor and Leonid Bronevoy, 79, one of his capricious patients, was awarded an honourable mention from the jury.

Norwegian Bard Breien was awarded the prize for best director for his film "The Art of Negative Thinking".

"I was often asked why I shot a movie about deeply depressed and lonely people. I know now that in eastern Europe they are as depressed as we are," he joked on receiving his prize.

Australian Michael James Rowland was also awarded an honourable mention by the jury for "Lucky Miles", the story of a clandestine group of immigrants who land on the Australian coast.

Spaniard Elvira Minguez was named best actress for her role in the film "Pudor" by the brothers Tristan and David Ulloa.

The Czech film "Vratne Lahve" (Returned Bottles) directed by Jan Sverak was selected by the public for the award for the best script.

Created in 1946, the Karlovy Vary film festival claims to be the biggest film event in central Europe. Its eclectic programme has attracted thousands of film fans each year to the biggest spa town, formerly Carlsbad, in the west of the country.